'Phenomenal' early fossil find

The lumbar vertibrae of 50 million-year-old crocodile found near Geebung, in Brisbane's north.

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Scientists have hailed the discovery of rare 50-million-year-old crocodile, frogs, fish, and plants fossils at a work site in Brisbane's north as a potential world-first.

At the discovery site on Robinson Road at Geebung where a A$100 million (NZ$117m) rail overpass is being built, Queensland Museum chief executive Professor Suzanne Miller explained the significance of the find.

"This is an incredible ... for Queensland, for Australia and for this local community," Professor Miller said.

"This is utterly unique to science.

"To find this variety of plants and animals that were alive and co-existing 50 million years ago is phenomenal.

"Geologically, around the world there will be a lot of interest in the fossils that have been found."

The fossil remains were discovered by a work crew drilling a hole for a bridge support over an area called the Zillman Waterholes.

About a fortnight ago, the fossils were detected in the "spoil", the oil shale rock and soil found in that hole.

Other fossils were found nearby in what was a low swampy area.

The fossils, about 50 million years old, include a vertebra from the lumbar region of an ancient crocodile that was about five metres long.